WHAT HAS HE GOT? WHAT DOES HE NEED?

LAST season this player was an outstanding contributor to the City academy, formerly overseen by Patrick Vieira. He is tall, easy moving and has all the assets: speed, dribbling ability, an eye for goal and fair bravery. A right-footed player, he sits on the left side and enjoys running with the ball, and is capable of reaching the byline and crossing with his weaker foot. He is versatile in this way. However, since his good period last season City have signed Patrick Roberts for £10million from Fulham (now on loan at Celtic) and it seems possible to me that Barker has seen his own visions of first-team football recede slightly. Twice recently I updated my files on this speedy wide man and not everything I saw was good. FOR a player like Barker to be successful, he needs a regular supply of the ball. In my second look at him recently his left-sided central defender constantly hit diagonal passes to his wide man on the right side, starving Barker of possession. Often he will not do enough to get involved. Later his manager switched him to the right but once again he failed to command the ball and I worried then about his appetite. In his previous game he had scored and been the star man and this suggests erratic form. Has he got the desire he needs to back up his talent? Only time will tell but stats suggest that only one per cent of senior clubs’ academy intake progress all the way to regular Premier League football. It is a path requiring dedication and determination, and I am hoping this really bright talent will feel the penny drop. Because if he does he will have a good career.